
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY.
19
-•
o. Then why was he directed to make it,
and why did he ask that the people might be
allowed to go and sacrifice, when they wanted
complete deliverance ? See note.
t. What did Pharaoh charge Moses and
Aaron with doing ? Ex. 5 : 4, 5.
12.
What did he say was the reason that
the people wanted to go and sacrifice ? Verses
8, 17.
13.
How were their burdens increased in
consequence ? Verses 6, 7, 17-19.
14.
After the Israelites had been delivered,
what exhortation was given to them, based on
their hard usage in Egypt ? Deut. 5 : 14, 15.
15.
What were they told to remember, in
order that they might not be led to require
their servants to work on the Sabbath ?
Verse r
5.
16.
For what purpose did God deliver
them from bondage? Ex. 4: 23 ; Ps. 105 :
17.
What does this indicate? Ans.—That
they could not properly serve him in Egypt.
18.
What may we conclude from this fact,
and Pharaoh's statement to Moses and Aaron
that they made the people
"rest
from their
burdens," and the exhortation in Deut. 5:
1
4, 15?
NOTES.—It
is not in accordance with
God's plan to punish any man, no matter
how wicked he may be, without warning him,
and giving him a chance to repent. There-
fore, although he knew that Pharaoh was so
churlish and stubborn that he would not
listen to reason, he did not begin to send
judgments upon him, at first, to force him
to let Israel go, but sent a simple request,
instead. Thus his justice was manifested.
In the demand, " Let my people go, that
they may hold a feast unto me in the wilder-
ness," an opportunity was offered to Pharaoh
to recognize the God of Israel as the true
God. It was, in fact, Pharaoh's chance for
repentance. If Pharaoh had granted the
simple request which Moses brought to him
from the Lord, it would have indicated that
he recognized the authority of God; and in
that case he would have been willing to grant
whatever else the Lord might demand.
FROM Ex. 4 : 23 and Ps.
,
5:43
-
45 we
learn that the children of Israel could not
serve the Lord in Egypt. In Deut.
5:14,
15
we find special emphasis given to that por-
tion of the fourth commandment requiring
the man-servant and the maid-servant to rest,
and the Israelite was told to remember that
he had been a servant in the land of Egypt;
also in Ex. 5:5 we learn that Moses and
Aaron made the people
"rest
from their
burdens." From these facts we may con-
clude that the Sabbath was one of the things
in which they could not serve the Lord in
Egypt; and when Moses and Aaron came
with the message of God (Ex. 4: 29-31),
they attempted a reform, which only increased
their oppression. The Israelites were deliv-
ered, that they might observe the statutes of
the Lord, including the Sabbath, and this
placed upon them an additional obligation
to keep the Sabbath strictly, as well as to keep
all the commandments. Compare Deut. 24:
17, 18.
LESSON
,dune
3o, 1888.
SUGGESTIONS FOR QUARTERLY
REVIEW.
See note to lesson r3; the same suggestions will
apply to this lesson.
I.
GIVE
a brief Bible description of the
character of Abraham.
2.
What was the foundation of Abraham's
righteousness ?
3.
Tell how Abraham's faith was tested.
4.
What made this such a test of his faith?
5.
How did Jacob come to leave his
father's house ?
6.
Relate the dream which he had while
on his journey.
7.
What vow did he make ?
8.
Give proof that it is right for us to
make such vows.
9.
Where is this narrative recorded?
to. Relate the circumstances of Jacob's
wrestling with the angel.
t. Who was the angel ?
12.
What was the cause of Jacob's impor-
tunity, and what did he receive ?
13.
For what purpose was this narrative
recorded ?
14.
What led to Joseph's being sold into
Egypt ?
15.
How did he suffer there, and what for?